On Tuesday, February 13, Elliot Library hosts Glenbard West’s second annual African American Read-In. The event showcased student art, a keynote speech by Professor Tony Bowers, and poetry readings from students and staff.
The National African American Read-In “is an effort to encourage communities to read together, centering African American books and authors,” as defined by the National Council of Teachers of English. The Black Caucus of the National Council of Teachers of English established the read-in 1990 to “make literacy a significant part of Black History Month.”
West’s Elliot Library and Media Center joins over 300 schools nationwide participating in the annual African American Read-In.
Associate Professor of English at the College of DuPage, Tony Bowers, was the event’s keynote speaker. Before reading from his book, On The Nine, Prof. Bowers emphasized the importance of the read-in as ‘an act of resistance’ against current attempts to ‘erase African American literature’ with book banning. He stressed that “reading is a very powerful thing,” and asked audience members to “think of yourselves as a part of a movement,” in which 6 million people have participated in since 1990.
Prose by the likes of Amanda Gorman, John Lewis, Oprah, and others were read by West students and staff. Readers included school social worker Deandra Bass, school psychologist Nisa Gabbidon, sophomore Sanaa White, sophomore Marquis Sanders, Dean Lillie Blackmon, and sophomore Cayce Westbrooks.
In addition to celebrating the written word, the read-in also highlighted other mediums of artistic expression. The event’s music was arranged by Marquis Sanders; the playlist also included a track he created in a Hip-Hop production class. Visual art by senior Alycia Perez and junior Rhiannon Jones was also featured at the function.
Ms. Perez says that “most of my art is based on my relationship with my siblings. We all share a common attribute, our hair. My hair for me makes up a lot of my identity and makes me identifiable, that’s why it’s such a big attribute within my art.”
Ms. Jones expresses her passion as “being able to create my own art. I love my family and I love animals, and being able to incorporate those types of ideas and topics into my art is what I enjoy.”
Click here to find out more about the African American Read-In and find reading recommendations.
